Strawberry plant named ‘DrisStrawFortyNine’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of strawberry plant named ‘DrisStrawFortyNine’ particularly characterized by having medium-sized, medium red fruit, a flat globose plant habit, and early harvest maturity, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Fragaria×ananassa.

Variety denomination: ‘DrisStrawFortyNine’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention relates to a new and distinct strawberry varietydesignated ‘DrisStrawFortyNine’ and botanically known asFragaria×ananassa. This new strawberry variety was discovered inHillsborough County, Fla. in December 2009 and originated from a crossbetween the proprietary female parent ‘18Q361’ (unpatented) and theproprietary male parent ‘68N66’ (unpatented). A single plant wasselected and asexually propagated via tissue culture and vegetativecuttings in Shasta County, Calif. in 2009.

‘DrisStrawFortyNine’ underwent further testing in Hillsborough County,Fla. from 2009-2014. The present invention has been found to retain itsdistinctive characteristics through successive asexual propagations viastolons and tissue culture.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of this new cultivar when grown under normalhorticultural practices in Hillsborough County, Fla.

-   -   1. Medium-sized, medium red fruit;    -   2. Flat globose plant habit; and    -   3. Early harvest maturity.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying color photographs show typical specimens of the newvariety at various stages of development. The colors shown are as trueas can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.The photographs were taken from three-month-old plants.

FIG. 1 shows upper and lower surfaces of the leaves of the plant withthree leaflets.

FIG. 2 shows both upper and lower surfaces of the flowers.

FIG. 3 shows the whole fruit.

FIG. 4 shows the fruit in longitudinal cross-section.

FIG. 5 shows the entire plant habit.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘DrisStrawFortyNine’. The data which define thesecharacteristics is based on observations taken in Hillsborough County,Fla. from 2009 to 2014. This description is in accordance with UPOVterminology. Color designations, color descriptions, and otherphenotypical descriptions may deviate from the stated values anddescriptions depending upon variation in environmental, seasonal,climatic, and cultural conditions. ‘DrisStrawFortyNine’ has not beenobserved under all possible environmental conditions. The botanicaldescription of ‘DrisStrawFortyNine’ was taken from three-month-oldplants. Color references are primarily to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of TheRoyal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.) (2007 edition).Descriptive terminology follows the Plant Identification Terminology, AnIllustrated Glossary, 2^(nd) edition by James G. Harris and MelindaWoolf Harris, unless where otherwise defined.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

-   Classification:    -   -   Species.—Fragaria×ananassa.        -   Common name.—Strawberry.        -   Denomination.—‘DrisStrawFortyNine’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—The proprietary variety ‘18Q361’            (unpatented).        -   Male parent.—The proprietary variety ‘68N66’ (unpatented).-   Plant:    -   -   Height.—10.6 cm.        -   Diameter.—29.8 cm.        -   Number of crowns/plant.—3.        -   Habit.—Flat globose.        -   Density of individual plant.—Open — sparse.        -   Vigor (health and hardiness of plant).—Weak to medium.-   Terminal leaflets:    -   -   Size.—Medium. Length: 7.7 cm. Width: 8.4 cm. Length/width            ratio: 0.9 (Broader than long).        -   Number of teeth/terminal leaflet.—25.        -   Shape of teeth.—Obtuse — serrate to crenate.        -   Color.—Upper surface: RHS 137A (Medium green). Lower            surface: RHS 143D (Light green).        -   Shape in cross section.—Slightly concave.        -   Blistering.—Weak.        -   Glossiness.—Absent or weak.        -   Number of leaflets.—Three only.        -   Shape.—Orbicular.        -   Base shape.—Rounded.        -   Apex descriptor.—Rounded.        -   Margin.—Crenate.        -   Margin profile.—Revolute (margins rolled backwards).        -   Variegation.—Absent.-   Petiole:    -   -   Length.—Short; 10.5 cm.        -   Diameter.—2.45 mm.        -   Pubescence.—Dense.        -   Pose of hairs.—Outwards — horizontal.        -   Color.—RHS 141D (Green).        -   Bract frequency.—0.-   Petiolule:    -   -   Length.—6.16 mm.        -   Diameter.—1.26 mm.        -   Color.—RHS 141D (Green).-   Stipule:    -   -   Length.—3.1 cm.        -   Width.—8.73 mm.        -   Pubescence.—Sparse.        -   Stipule anthocyanin coloration.—Absent or very weak; RHS            145C (Yellow-green).-   Stolon:    -   -   Number.—Medium.        -   Average number of daughter plants per square foot.—13.        -   Anthocyanin coloration.—Strong; RHS 53D (Red).        -   Diameter at bract.—1.08 mm.        -   Density of pubescence.—Absent or very sparse.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Position relative to foliage.—Above.        -   Number of flowers per plant.—Medium; 2.50.        -   Time of flowering (50% of plants at first flower).—Early;            Mid-November to late March.        -   Flower size.—Medium.        -   Flower diameter.—25.74 mm.        -   Petals.—Shape: Orbicular. Apex: Rounded. Base:            Concavo-convex. Margin: Entire. Spacing: Overlapping.            Length: 10.82 mm. Width: 11.23 mm. Length/width ratio: 1.0            (As long as broad). Petal number per flower: 6. Color (upper            surface): RHS NN155B (White).        -   Calyx.—Diameter: 50.86 mm. Diameter relative to corolla:            Much larger. Inner calyx diameter relative to outer:            Smaller. Insertion of calyx: In a basin — inserted. Pose of            calyx segments: Spreading — outwards. Size of calyx in            relation to fruit: Slightly larger. Adherence of calyx:            Strong.        -   Sepal.—Shape: Oblong. Apex: Convex. Margin: Entire. Length:            19.44 mm. Width: 11.41 mm. Sepal number: 13.        -   Receptacle color.—RHS 149B (Yellow-green).        -   Stamen.—Present. Anther color: RHS 13A (Yellow).        -   Pedicel.—Attitude of hairs: Upwards.-   Fruiting truss:    -   -   Length.—Short; 18.2 cm.        -   Diameter at base of truss.—3.38 mm.        -   Number of berries per fruiting truss.—2.        -   Attitude at first picking.—Prostrate.        -   Color at base of truss.—RHS 143C (Green).-   Fruit:    -   -   Relative fruit size.—Medium.        -   Length.—46.49 mm.        -   Width.—40.20 mm.        -   Length/width ratio.—1.2 (Longer than broad).        -   Fruit hollow length.—13.45 mm.        -   Fruit hollow width.—3.54 mm.        -   Fruit hollow length/width ratio.—3.8 (Longer than broad).        -   Fruit hollow center (cavity).—Small.        -   Fruit weight.—27.0 g.        -   Predominant fruit shape.—Conical.        -   Difference in shape between primary and secondary            fruits.—Slight.        -   Evenness of fruit surface.—Even or very slightly uneven.        -   Fruit skin color.—RHS 45B (Medium red).        -   Evenness of fruit color.—Even or very slightly uneven.        -   Fruit glossiness.—Medium.        -   Achenes.—Insertion of achenes: Level with surface.            Coloration (sunward side of berry): RHS 59C (Red-purple).            Coloration (shaded side of berry): RHS 151B (Yellow-green).            Number per berry: 378. Weight (weight of achenes divided by            total # seed): 0.000528 g. Width of band without achenes:            Medium.        -   Firmness of flesh (when fully ripe).—Firm.        -   Color of flesh (excluding core).—RHS 42B (Dark red).        -   Color of core.—RHS 39A (Medium red).        -   Evenness of flesh color.—Slightly uneven.        -   Distribution of flesh color.—Marginal and central.        -   Sweetness.—Medium.        -   Acidity.—Medium.        -   Texture when tasted.—Fine.        -   Type of bearing.—Partially everbearing — partially            remontant.        -   Harvest interval.—Early December to late March.        -   Harvest maturity.—Early.        -   Production.—385.28 grams per plant.-   Disease and pest resistance:    -   -   Tetranychus urticae.—Susceptible.        -   Botrytis fruit rot.—Susceptible.        -   Xanthomonas fragariae.—Moderately susceptible.        -   Colletotrichum gloeosporioides.—Susceptible.-   Stress resistance:    -   -   High temperatures.—Moderately resistant.        -   Wind.—Moderately susceptible.        -   High pH.—Resistant.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL AND COMMERCIAL VARIETIES

When ‘DrisStrawFortyNine’ is compared to the female parent ‘18Q361’(unpatented), ‘DrisStrawFortyNine’ is later to come into production andhas less yield per plant than ‘18Q361’. Additionally,‘DrisStrawFortyNine’ plants are larger and healthier than those of‘18Q361’.

When ‘DrisStrawFortyNine’ is compared to the male parent ‘68N66’(unpatented), ‘DrisStrawFortyNine’ produces earlier and has higheroverall season yields than ‘68N66’. Additionally, ‘DrisStrawFortyNine’has smaller fruit size than ‘68N66’.

‘DrisStrawFortyNine’ differs from the commercial variety‘DrisStrawTwentyFour’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,378), in that‘DrisStrawFortyNine’ has medium-sized fruit that is medium red colorwith medium glossiness, whereas ‘DrisStrawTwentyFour’ has very largefruit that is dark red color with strong glossiness. Additionally,‘DrisStrawFortyNine’ has inflorescence positioned above the foliage,whereas ‘DrisStrawTwentyFour’ has inflorescence positioned beneath thefoliage.

‘DrisStrawFortyNine’ differs from the commercial variety‘DrisStrawTwelve’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 21,538), in that‘DrisStrawFortyNine’ has an open-sparse plant density and inflorescencepositioned above the foliage, whereas ‘DrisStrawTwelve’ has a mediumplant density and inflorescence that is positioned beneath the foliage.Additionally, ‘DrisStrawFortyNine’ has medium-sized fruit with mediumred color, whereas ‘DrisStrawTwelve’ has large fruit with darkpurple-red color.

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of strawberry plant named‘DrisStrawFortyNine’, substantially as illustrated and described herein.